Friday, April 11, 2014

Four years ago today, our second little angel came into our lives. This little one is our "live wire." She is a ball full of energy, has her own look and her own way. Quiet possibly the best way to describe our Kate is sincere: whether she is happy, sad, angry, excited, she can not hide her emotions and feels them to the max!

In Kate's own words:

My favorite color is...pink

On TV, I like to watch...Monkey George

My favorite book is...Stuffie Book

My favorite movie is...Peter Pan

I like to eat...healthy food

I feel happy when...Daddy comes home

I feel sad when...Daddy is away

I like to...play with Daddy & Elena outside

I don't like to...tear up my shirts

I think Daddy is...handsome

I think Mommy is...beautiful

I think Elena is...beautiful
I think Wren is...beautiful

I think Georgia (our dog) is...big

I think Gracie (our cat) is...little

I like to play with...Elena

My favorite toy is...the doll house

I am really good at...playing soccer

I get excited...when Daddy comes home

I like to go to...Great Wolf Lodge

My best friend is...Elena

I love...Elena

I am forever amazed that the Lord would allow me to be a mom to this little one! What a joy it is to have her in our lives. My prayer for you, sweet Kate is the same today as it always is:

What an awesome privilege God has given me to be your Mommy.

I pray that you forever grow in His Grace.

I pray that you will grow to Love Him more each day

I pray that you will grow to show His love to others

I pray that you will have all the joys your heart desires

I pray that I will always be able to guide you along the right path

I pray that you will always know how very much you are lovedI pray that no one ever quenches your zeal for lifeI pray that your enthusiasm is always used for God's glory

I pray for His wisdom in raising you to be all that God designed you to be.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

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Looking over my blog, I just realized (now that she's almost 15 months old) I have NEVER posted about our darling baby girl, Carrington Wren! I'm not sure if I've ever even mention her here (though my FB page is flooded with updates about how she blesses our family each day). In a few short words and pictures, here's a wrap up of her first year. This one's for you, our little Wren!

Monday, August 19, 2013

Pin ItHaving been in education for seven years before the girls came along, I have seen many first days come and go. I watched as the Kindergarten parents walked their little dears down to the classrooms: tissues in hand with red noses and bleeding mascara. Most of the time I thought to myself that will NEVER be me! Even up until last week, I still felt that way...then it happened. My husband offered to go with us to take Elena on the first day. I lost it...I mean, ugly cry lost it...then never really got it back. I have been an emotional wreck since then, crying "happy tears" as we call them around here, each time I thought of letting her go.I'm a planner...not because I feel like it always has to be just so, but more so I can be mentally prepared for what may happen. God is teaching me some things about that and today was one of those days where He showed me just how much I need to work on letting go and trusting Him instead.I began my day in Romans 12:9-16. This is my prayer for Elena and her class this year. Then I poured out my heart to God (pretty sure I stained that page in Romans with some spilled coffee and tears as I prayed). I confessed my lack of faith and pleaded with Him to lift me up today. Before I was ready, it was time to wake the girls and get the morning under way.Per Elena's request, we had home-made blueberry pancakes for breakfast. I started working on them then went into the girls' room to wake them. She bounced out of bed, made her bed without complaining and got herself dressed (I'm not snowed into thinking this is how it will be every day, but I'm glad today was that way). She insisted I put her hair up and she wear a bib so she didn't get syrup in her hair or on her new "music" shirt. (Then she asked that I not comb her hair because it looked BEAUTIFUL just the way it was). It was unintentional, but that's just what happened! I completely ran out of time to brush her hair and put it up again so she went with a funky pony-tail of un-combed hair this morning. She was happy as a lark, and I am learning that happiness is sometimes more important than having a perfect appearance.

I know that every good parent's goal is to have their child grow up to be a responsible adult who is able to think and do for themselves. That begins with allowing kids responsibilities and choices, sometimes earlier than we would like. Elena picked out her outfit, dressed herself, designed her book bag, and packed her own lunch for this morning...and I have NEVER seen this girl more proud! Tough for me to let go (and none of the choices I would have made myself), but totally worth it to see the satisfaction on her face.

I'm STILL not used to getting three kiddos ready and out the door to go ANYWHERE (much less trying to do it about an hour earlier than we ever have before, without Daddy in the house to urge everyone on). We got to school later than I would have liked, in the rain, without a rain coat. We arrived at her classroom door where I was hoping to snap a couple of pictures of her with her teacher, maybe get a shot of her with Patrick and me, and be able to have a minute of hugs and well wishes for the day.

Instead, there was a MASS of kids, teachers, and parents in the hallway, all trying to go different places and of course we couldn't get anywhere with a baby stroller and 3 year old in tow. Elena walked into the classroom on her own (after a few questioning glances to me about what she should do while I returned her looks with uncertainty myself), the teacher's assistant helped her put her things away and a clump of parents huddled together near the door snapping last minute photos as their little ones gathered on the carpet and the teacher waved to us.

And that was it! In that flurry of activity, my little girl officially started her job as a student. It wasn't until I got to the car that I realized I never even said goodbye to her. I worried about whether I caused her to be nervous, if my insecurities affected her, if she knew how very much I loved her. Then I got home and loaded this picture onto my computer:

And again the tears began to flow. But this time, it was because of what the Lord revealed to me through this image. In SO many ways, this picture tells the entire story. She wasn't looking at me. She didn't need to look at me. She was intent on her teacher. She had a smile on her face and was excited about what lay ahead for her, never once looking back.

Though our job is FAR from done as Mommy and Daddy, today has taught me that we've done pretty good this far. She is a happy, confident, responsible little girl who knows she is loved and knows she has a job to do. That was evident in the way she walked into the classroom this morning, and evident in her prayer last night, "God help me to show love to my friends and teachers in my class and help me to put others first." I think I am truly learning what it is to have your heart outside your body today. But as much as I love this girl, I know that God loves her more. She isn't mine, she is His, and He has just entrusted her to us for a short time.

Thank you, Lord for this precious, crazy gift of parenthood and for teaching me so many things through my children. Thank you for being faithful and answering my prayer today. You were there with me the entire way. You reminded me of her sweet and simple prayer last night that so perfectly mirrored my own prayer for her this morning and even when the master deceiver tried to trick me into thinking I had it all wrong, you blessed me with this beautiful image of this strong 5-year old little girl that belongs to you.

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

In prepping preschool crafts for Colossal Coaster World VBS this year, I decided to take a few pictures and share what we are planning. I started with our packet of info from Lifeway and then moved on to Pinterest (you can view my board here). Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to see tutorials for anything in particular (though most of the activities are self-explanatory). Click on the links below for specifics for each day.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Three years ago today, our second little angel came into our lives. This little one is our "live wire." She is a ball full of energy, has her own look and her own way. Quiet possibly the best way to describe our Kate is sincere: whether she is happy, sad, angry, excited, she can not hide her emotions and feels them to the max!

In the past year you have grown from a little toddler to a precious little girl and Mommy and Daddy couldn't be more proud!

I love the sound of your voice when you are playing pretend

I love those random hugs you give throughout the day

I love all of your silly faces

I love your pretty curls (especially as I learn to tame them)

I love when you stick your cheek out for me to kiss it (and how one kissed cheek is never enough)I love to hear your sweet prayers at bed timeI love giving and receiving your "Ugga-Muggas" (nose kisses)I love giving you piggy-back rides to bedI love watching you play with your sistersI love your passion for life!

In Kate's own words:

My favorite color is...purple

On TV, I like to watch...Monkey George

My favorite book is...BB Wolf

My favorite movie is...Tangled

I like to eat...carrots

I feel happy when...somebody plays with me

I feel sad when...someone takes my toys away

I like to...sprinkle (put sprinkles on a cake)

I don't like to...write

I think Daddy is...brown

I think Mommy is...pink

I think Elena is...a sister
I think Wren is...a baby sister

I think Georgia (our dog) is...dark

I think Gracie (our cat) is...hiding

I like to play with...balls

My favorite toy is...my play food

I am really good at...throwing balls

I get excited...when I see Grammy

I like to go to...Grandpa's

My best friend is...Elena

I love...Elena

I am forever amazed that the Lord would allow me to be a mom to this little one! What a joy it is to have her in our lives. My prayer for you, sweet Kate is the same today as it always is:

What an awesome privilege God has given me to be your Mommy.

I pray that you forever grow in His Grace.

I pray that you will grow to Love Him more each day

I pray that you will grow to show His love to others

I pray that you will have all the joys your heart desires

I pray that I will always be able to guide you along the right path

I pray that you will always know how very much you are lovedI pray that no one ever quenches your zeal for lifeI pray that your enthusiasm is always used for God's glory

I pray for His wisdom in raising you to be all that God designed you to be.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

My two oldest girls have birthdays exactly one month apart. With that in mind, we decided to go for a joint party this year. After tossing around numerous themes, the girls both finally settled on Star Wars. Truthfully, I enjoy Star Wars, and we've watched the older ones with the girls a few times, but I never imagined that my soon to be 3 and soon to be 5 year old GIRLS would want to have a Star Wars party! With that being said, I am all about allowing their input and making it fun not only for them, but all that we invite.

To go along with the "Star" theme, we are having our local Science Center bring their Star Lab for the kids and parents to "explore their galaxy." I was looking for an easy craft project for the kids to do as they arrived that went along with the theme and this is what I came up with: Galaxy in a Jar.

You will need:

Photo paper (dollar tree) and printer

Scissors

Push pins (dollar tree)

Cardboard or foam board (dollar tree)

Led push light (dollar tree)

3 AAA batteries (dollar tree)

LARGE MOUTH pint canning jar with lid

Start by printing the FREE constellation file here on your photo paper. The photo paper is thick enough to block most of the light, but thin enough to allow the constellations guides and terms to show.

Cut out one image.

Lay your cut out on your cardboard or foam board and use your push pin to puncture the white dots. Feel free to pick the constellations you like best (if you do them all, you will be there for a while and your hand might get tired). You can make smaller holes for the smaller stars and larger ones for the larger stars to make it appear more realistic.

Install the batteries in your LED push light.

Remove the sticky back and secure the light in the bottom of the canning jar.

Insert your punched constellation map so it lines the jar and the bottom is between the light and the jar.

Turn on the light and replace the lid.

View your "Galaxy" or constellations in a dark room.

For FREE monthly sky maps and what to look for in the sky, visit Skymaps

About Me

I am a "temporarily retired" elementary music teacher and mom of 3 who loves what my husband calls my "projects." Whether it's designing something on the computer, sewing up something for my girls, or the myriad of other creative endeavors, there's always something innovative going on in our home.